Emery demands better from Villa despite strong start

England forward Beth Mead called for more consistency after the Lionesses required a dramatic comeback to beat the Netherlands 3-2 at Wembley and keep their hopes of qualifying for next summer’s Olympics alive.

The Nations League contest marked a first appearance for second-half substitute Mead in more than a year since she ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament last November, just a few months after the Arsenal veteran had won the golden boot at Euro 2022 and also been named player of the tournament.

England will need to beat Scotland at Hampden Park on Tuesday night to have any chance of advancing in the inaugural tournament, with only the group leaders progressing.

Mead said: “The days when I’ve struggled in the gym, long, hard training days of not bein…

Scotland striker Kevin Nisbet has left Hibernian for Millwall after the two clubs agreed “a significant seven-figure fee”, the cinch Scottish Premiership outfit have announced.

The deal for the 26-year-old, whose exact price tag remains undisclosed, includes both add-ons and a sell-on arrangement.

A statement on Hibs’ official website read: “We can confirm that Kevin Nisbet has joined English Championship side Millwall for a significant seven-figure fee.

We can confirm that Kevin Nisbet has joined English Championship side Millwall.

Thanks for all your efforts, Nizzy

— Hibernian Football Club (@HibernianFC)

“The full terms of the 26-year-old’s departure will remain undisclosed, however, it does include sizeable add-ons and …

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany insists nothing is settled in the Premier League title race after the reigning champions regained top spot with an authoritative 2-0 win at Manchester United. 

City sit a point clear of Liverpool with three games to play and second-half goals from Bernardo Silva and substitute Leroy Sane created a sense that the biggest hurdle to them becoming the first team to retain England s top flight crown since United in 2008-09 has now been negotiated. 

But Kompany believes the challenges ahead starting with a trip to Burnley on Sunday and concluding at Brighton and Hove Albion on the other side of their last home fixture of the season against Leicester City are significant. 

To me it s significant because it s a derby. Th…

Real Madrid are currently considering the possibility of making a move for Manchester City striker Erling Haaland at the end of the season, according to .

Apparently, the Spanish giants have serious doubts about Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe moving to the Santiago Bernabeu, and it is believed they have learned their lesson in 2022, when they held out for Mbappe and decided against rivaling Manchester City for Haaland before the Norwegian transfer from Borussia Dortmund.

Mbappe s contract expires at the end of the season, as things stand, and Real want him to make a commitment by signing a pre-contract agreement by January 15th. The France captain, for his part, reportedly doesn t appreciate this kind of pressure from Los Blancos, being keen on keeping his optio…

Arsenal s Martin Odegaard limped off as Manchester City s Erling Haaland scored late to seal a 2-1 victory for Norway against Austria in the Nations League.

Odegaard appeared to injure his ankle following a tangle of legs with Christoph Baumgartner, subsequently leaving the field in tears in the 67th minute.

It provides a bitter blow for Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta ahead of this weekend s north London derby with Tottenham Hotspur, with Declan Rice also missing after his red card against Brighton and Hove Albion.

The Gunners captain left the field with the scores level at Ullevaal Stadion after Felix Myhre s ninth minute strike was cancelled out by Marcel Sabitzer before half-time.

With Norway looking set to draw their first two games in their Nati…

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Looking to make it back-to-back Europa League victories on Thursday night, Bayer Leverkusen will travel over to Norway when they meet Molde.

Molde

Starting with the hosts, while Molde might have largely impressed since returning from September’s international break, the reigning Norwegian champions have struggled with their consistency this season. Needing a minor miracle in their bid to retain their Eliteserien crown this year, Erling Moe’s men also opened their Europa League adventure with a toothless performance on September 21st. Getting proceedings underway with a 1-0 loss at the hands of Qarabag, MFK will be more than aware that they face a stern examination on Thursday night. However, picking up some perfect momentum over th…

Marco Silva conceded Fulham cannot switch off for one second in the Premier League, after Danny Ings last-gasp equaliser denied the Cottagers all three points against West Ham.

The hosts appeared on course to take the spoils in the London derby at Craven Cottage, where Raul Jimenez put them in front after 24 minutes.

However, the visitors snatched a dramatic equaliser in the fifth minute of stoppage time, when substitute Ings fired past Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno.

And Silva acknowledged his side s brief lapse in concentration proved costly.

It just shows that in this Premier League, you cannot switch off for one second, he told BBC Sport. We are aware of the quick throws, and we have to keep focus and concentration.

A big frustration for us be…

With the 2023/24 campaign just around the corner, all of England s elite are starting to put together the final touches during their summer preparations.

Watching a host of Premier League heavyweights travel over to the United States this summer, clubs from up and down the country are looking to make a pre-season statement of intent.

With the likes of Chelsea and battling it out in midweek, we have taken a glance at two all-Premier League clashes from the USA.

Brentford vs Brighton

Date: Wednesday, July 26th
UK Start Time: 22:30
Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

Embarking on what was a famous Premier League romp last season and clinching a maiden European ticket, have only gone from strength to strength since they welcomed Roberto De Zerbi to t…

Gabriel Jesus scored a second-half brace as Manchester City claimed a 2-1 win over Everton, who suffered defeat for the first time under Carlo Ancelotti.

Brazil striker Jesus was restored to the starting line-up in one of five changes from City s victory against Sheffield United and more than took his opportunity in Wednesday s clash at the Etihad Stadium.

Phil Foden had a strike ruled out by the video assistant referee in a low-key first half, but the home side stepped things up in the second half and were rewarded through Jesus quickfire double.

Everton had won back-to-back matches under Ancelotti previously and gave themselves a lifeline when Richarlison profited from a Claudio Bravo error 19 minutes from time, but they could not find a leveller as City saw th…

Neymar says it will be impossible to stop Paris Saint-Germain winning the Champions League if they replicate the never-say-die spirit shown in a remarkable 2-1 victory over Atalanta.

The French champions were heading for a shock defeat in Wednesday s quarter-final in Lisbon as they trailed to Mario Pasalic s first-half strike heading into injury time.

However, Marquinhos scored a fortuitous equaliser in the 90th minute and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting converted from close range 149 seconds later to complete the turnaround.

Despite being on the brink of elimination at the hands of surprise package Atalanta, Neymar insists he never feared crashing out of the competition.

I never thought of elimination, I never thought of going home, he told RMC Sport. From …